Leira approaches the Sargeant "Can I sit?" assuming the man accepts or does not answer she takes sit in his table and looks to the party inviting them to join to.
"First of all, I am sorry for your loss. I know how deeply attached to Rodrik you were..." says the girl trying to be empathic. She looks around and assuming the corner is far away from others ears and the environmental noise is high enough to conceal the conversation she proceeds with some questions.
"You probably know we are trying to sort out what happened yesterday night. Things have been complicated and there are some bits of information you might know that can help us understand what happened. We think we have identified the signs as the Nails tribe... and we think there is a foreigner half-orc group behind. What have you found about it?"
Dundin approaches the sergeant carefully, the shame of his failure to protect Rodrick comes up yet again.
Seeing that the pretty lady is talking, he listens carefully. He does scan the crowd looking for threats. He has decided that most of these newcomers are the problem. Someone needs to watch 'em!!
Dundin carefully sizes up anyone he doesn't recognize.
The sergeant looks up at the pair, bleary eyed. He seems to have a bit of trouble focusing on your faces, swaying as he does so. He belches loudly, rudely, and the strong smell of stale cheap liquor and vomit washes over you as he does so. Welsh, that's being a versy nicsh offers, buts I coumitts poshibly handles moresy than twosh blondeses ats onesh, and evens thens, nots forse very longs. So nopes, I thinkes I willsh has anothers drinkey insteads, yeahsh. hiccup.
It would seem at the moment the Sergeant is highly intoxicated. No one in the bar seems to be paying him, or you much attention, aside from the bar owner, watching you while trying hard not to appear to be doing so.
A bit frustrated Leira says with some familiarity "Frum! Please you have to help us! Do you have a list of where the symbol has appeared?" she tries to hold the man.
If it seems clear we are not going to get anything from him in his state, the girl tries to convince him to let the party carry him to his house "Please, Frum, you need to go home and recover. Let us safely take you there..."
It is obvious Frum is too intoxicated to be of much help right now. He smiles blearily, then turns back to his mug, drawing a long drink and mumbling, Them crosses, Rodrik calling to me. Calling out my failures. Roddy boy, I'm so sorry... As a single trooper, he likely does not have a home, but lives in the barracks at the Longhouse, with the other militiamen.
The tavern owner, Rabus Clarenston, comes over, taking a seat from a nearby table. You has to understand, Omast wast in rough shape when he gots here. I couldna turns him away, he woulda ended up in worst shape, harmed himself mebbe. I knows the guards ain't supposed tas be drinking on duty, but he's taken Rodrik's death mitey hard. Cuts him a break. You drags him back ta the Longhouse, theys gonna locks him up fer this, he'll be losing everathin.
"The man's too drunk to tell us anything useful now, and tomorrow morning his head's gonna feel like an anvil. I say we rest up and go see this Plague House." Groin says darkly. His mood grim since dropping Morgrim off to covalesce.
Leira nods in acceptance "You all are right. But we cannot take him to the common house, he will be in trouble. I would take him with me, but I fear Erik will be angry about it on discovering him. Can you take him? " Leira looks at the party members hoping one can help the poor Sargent the whole night.
"That sounds good" with that said and after finishing the dinner, Leira helps Songan and the other members of the party to place Frum at the Sanctuary.
Assuming the Sanctuary accepts the man, Leira will ask "It is too late, better if we move home for a sleep. Tomorrow we can come look for the Sargent and make some buying." and looking to the catfolk she adds "I am scared more ambushers can come over us. The way home is so dark and lonely at night..."
"Yeah, I don't think they'd go any easier on him at Ivory Hall. Not that he deserves protection, drinking on duty. Besides, we know what the symbols mean now, and Kurst can have men check them out, if he knows where to find Sergeant Frum. Especially if our next lead is decided.
Rabus, everyone knows how diligent you are about keepin' the men sober for their shifts, you won't be blamed."
The Sanctuary will indeed put Frum up for the night, adding a cot for him so as not to put Songan out of his own bed. Since Katrezra is staying with Sara, there is a spare room and two cots if anyone else should prefer to bunk there rather than travel home alone.
Dundin feels the responsibility of helping the drunk man. He follows him home and makes sure he is safely asleep.
Delia understands the loss that Frum feels right now and is possibly a bit more understanding to his current state than some of the others. That being said... she looks at Rabus. "I understand, Rabus, but from this moment on, Frum is cut off. We will make sure he gets to a safe bed and some well deserved rest. I will not allow him to be taken to the Longhouse." She then shares a look with her companions. "Given that there has already been two attempts on our lives today, might I suggest we all stay at the Sanctuary this night? If we disperse and return to our own homes... the remaining assassins may become emboldened to make more attempts. We are stronger together than alone."
"I accept if there is room for us. But I will go home a moment to let mother and Erik know." Leira looks at her friend a bit worried about the recent events.
If the groups decides for the Sanctuary Leira just let's know her parents and then go back to sleep with the others under the protection of Iomedae.
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"It's all right with me. I don't mind roughing it with the boys."
Dundin nods:
"I just need a space on the floor. We stay together."
The group finishes up their meals, Rabus waiving the costs after hearing of your exploits this evening. You manage to gather up Frum and make your way as a group to the Sanctuary. The group can actually swing by Leira's parents place on the way, to allow her to inform them of her staying out overnight.
Priestess Tyari welcomes you to Iomedae's chapel and arranges for you to stay overnight. Songan and Frum stay in his room, Katrezra's room is offered to Leira and Delia. Dundin, Adir, and Groin are given reign over the main hall, allowed to bunk down on the pews or floor as desired. Jace and Tuzak are allowed to roam the walled compound, and the main door will be cracked open, if desired, to allow them to keep their masters' scents, to hear their voices if needed.
Brantos Calderon promises to wake you at first light, to break bread with the clergy and prepare your plans for the day.
Leira is despised at first having to sleep in the bed of a half-orc, but in the end she goes to sleep happy she at least can share the space with Delia. After some night chat with her friend the girl takes the poor blankets and covers herself in the cold of the night "Good night Dely!"
At first the faint scent to orc troubles her mind, but the fatigue of the long and complex day takes her at last into the world of dreams...
A sudden scream of rage goes over the improvised camp. An orc is hold by thick chains of steel to a wooden totem. She is yelling but it is not because of the pain of the multiple open wounds on her body, but rather because of the desire to return the pain to the ones standing in front of her.
She has been captured in the battlefield. Her proud tribe, attacked during the day, like sneaky humans. Carnage. She fought bravely, killed dozens, but was finally taken prisoner. She has to kill, kill them all, avenge her tribe.
Some seem scared, most show respect, but one in front of her laughs at her unimpressed. He brandishes a big axe and laughs. He cleans it and laughs... rage... pure rage grows inside her...
The fire in the camp starts to grow and crackle like in harmony with her feelings. Some look at the fire with fear. Her muscles start to grow, her face starts to grow, the world in front shrinks becoming smaller and smaller, her limbs, enormous like an ogre ones. The chains suddenly break not able to hold her! The totem breaks in thousand splinters with a big boom!
BOOOM! Thousands of splinters blow up in the middle of the night as the bed breaks. When the confusion clears up a large Leira is over the broken bed in the ground and pushing over Delia's body. The girl seems confused and starts to shout in the middle of the night silence "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!"
Delia does not like leaving Jace locked up so far away given the recent events in town; however, she also understands the fear that the local populace has against Jace. Warcats are fearsome foes and have been known to even take down giants... or so the legends insist. She scratches behind his ears and gives him a treat of dried beef before retiring for the night with Leira.
They chat for a time before each of the women head off to sleep; however, sometime in the middle of the night Delia is awoken by a loud crash and Leira's screaming. She jerks awake and reaches for her nearby longsword when she spots the large frame standing above Leira's destroyed bed. Confusion quickly sets in and she leaps from her bed, still in her smallclothes, blade at a high guard. "Foes in the Sanctuary! Awake defenders of Trunau! AWAKE!" she yells at the top of her lungs. She begins to advance on the large shadowy figure. "You will pay for what you have done to Leira!"
"Aaaaaaaaah!" Leira shouts as Delia approaches ready to smash her "Is me Delia! Is me! Really!" the girl looks at her then stands up in the room, the size of an ogre "What's that! I became a beast!"
The girl seems really scared of herself and clued on what happened, looking at the destroyed bed she adds "Oh my! Have I done that?" She hands towards Delia trying to find help "There was a big orc in my dreams and I suddenly awake with me falling to the ground and the bed broken like this."
She looks at her hands not quite trusting what she is seeing, as she turns to normal size she coughs and goes to the floor fatigued "What is happening to me, that thing in my eyes, now I become enlarged in the middle of the night... has someone placed a curse on me?"
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Songan had been sleeping soundly and peacefully... until he heard screams of invaders inside Sanctuary. Leaving Frum, he grabs the scabbard of his longsword and practically runs down the ladder of the loft, spinning in midair and dropping the sheath to the ground as soon as he lands. "Enemies?? Where? Where are they?!" he says in a panicked voice.
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As Songan arrives sword at hand Leira says "Oh, sorry! I didn't want to wake you up. I just had a nightmare..."
The girl feels very ashamed in front of the catfolk. She tries to cover herself as best as she can "I fear I made a mess... I don't know what happened to me... in my dreams I was an orc, and suddenly turned large to beat my enemies... and then... I was a giant when I woke up and the bed was broken..."
The girl sits on the bed remains, with all the emotions she drops totally exhausted without almost realizing.
Hearing screams in the middle of the night, and then Delia's warning shouts, Adir rushes to kick open the slightly ajar door for Jace and Tuzak. He then rushes after them and Songan to find an increasingly crowded bedchamber.
He listens to Leira's description of her dream and responds, "Sounds similar to something I can do for myself and Tuz there. Maybe it's not a curse. It'll probably be fine," he ends noncommittally.
"Oh, Adir, you too I waked you up..." the girl seems increasingly ashamed "Thanks for your words... do you think it is something coming from me? If it is something you can do, perhaps you can teach me how to control it. I would really prefer that scenario than having been possessed or something alike." the girl seems troubled.
"Well, let's hope you're not possessed, though with all the odd happenings...," his voice trails off for a moment.
"I don't know, I never had it happen spontaneously. It was more of a spark that Silvermane nurtured. Maybe you could try talking to him," he says, his voice full of doubt. He asks Delia, "So, she's the attacker?"
Dundin rushes to the scene quickly with axe drawn. He quickly sizes up the scene, and looks with a grim face for threats.
A look of relief passes over his face, and the stress seems to evaporate from his body as he drops to his knees.
"I thought I was to be too late once again. Staying together is important, and I sleep here now."
Dundin puts his sleep roll next to Leira. "We sleep now, long day tomorrow."
Within seconds he is snoring.
Groin relaxes the white knuckle grip on his warhammer. The sound of screams and splintering woodwork resonating deeply with him. Just the odd girl, just magic. Uneasily, he returns to sleep.
"I will check with him, perhaps he can give me some advice..." Leira answers. She laughs with Dundin arrival "Well, I guess I am the attacker! Sorry again!"
She observes how the dwarf installs his rollbed in the room. Not wanting to hamper any longer the others rest, the girl just occupies her space at the broken bed and starts sleeping.
It takes her some time at first, but eventually she succeeds to rest. The next morning, the girl seems rested but mostly ashamed of all what happened during the night.
During the breakfast she comments on her intention to do some shopping "I am excited about the exploration of the Plague House. I have never had the opportunity to do something like that. It sounds as something a real adventurer would do." she has a shiny smile this morning.
"I believe we might need some dungeoning equipment. I will buy some alchemical weapons, just in case we find an eventual group of bats. Do we have a rope? In the tavern the adventurers always talk about climbing up and down different places."
Once Sargent Frum wakes up she greets him "Good morning! Are you feeling better today?" and hoping he has a clearer mind this morning, she will ask the same questions that were left unanswered yesterday night. Basically what he has discovered about the symbols and where are they placed.
Delia stops short when the hears Leira's voice come from the massive and then suddenly she was shrinking back to her normal size just before her comrades burst into the room. Once the confusion is sorted she apologizes for waking everyone. I... I am sorry everyone. I was woken by the crash followed by Leira screaming. I saw a large shadow standing over the smashed bed and thought we were under attack again..."
Delia shakes her head and sheathes her blade. "I don't know what happened, Leira. I don't know that much about magic, but let's get more sleep if we can." She looks at the now sleeping dwarf in her room and shrugs. She offers to share her bed with Leira before covering up and going back to sleep.
The next morning she joins the other with Frum. "Before we go below, there is a bow I woul like to purchase with my voucher. I have been eyeing this beauty for some time, but could not afford it before now." She smiles.
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"Well that was certainly...unexpected. Just a moment, though, I can at least see if there has been some kind of sorcery at work here." the catfolk responds, and a few moments later he has woven the incantation for a Detect Magic spell, focusing the efforts of it on Leira.
"Hmm. So that's it, then. Leira, I believe I can identify the reason for your transformation. You are magically gifted, my young friend...it would seem that in your sleep, you caste a spell of enlargement on yourself unintentionally. Given your lack of any formal training, it would suggest your talent is innate...sorcery, rather than wizardry."
Leira is astonished by Songan's revelation "You mean I have an innate source of magic inside myself?" the girl seems stroke by the idea "You also know how to do some tricks. Can't you? Where does your magic come from Songan? Perhaps you can teach me how to control this, if it is true I have it inside..."
The girl continues the breakfast, even more confused than before, expecting Frum has something to offer so she can forget for a while about what is happening to herself.
"Frum," Adir says coolly, intentionally leaving out his rank.
"Delia, I'll go with you. There's some armor I'd like to commission from Clamor, if they don't already have 'em."
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Omast Frum slept through the minor disruption of the evening. He awakens in rough shape the following morning. Priestess Tyari is on hand to aid him, casting a spell over the man to help clear his head of the alcoholic fugue. He will need someone to aid him, to convince him there is still a purpose for him in Trunau, to show him a better way to honor Rodrik and commemorate his legacy going forwards.
Barterstones: A large white sword has been painted on the eastern face of the largest rock in this area, visible above the roofs of the market stalls set up in the stones’ shadow.
Commons: Someone has used a broad brush to paint a wide white cross or sword on the stone floor of the Commons amphitheater. The paint was covered over with fresh sand prior to Ruby's hopeknife ceremony.
Hopespring: Even the continual shower of mist from the Hopespring’s waterfall doesn’t erase the marker dye forming a white sword on the rock wall behind the town reservoir. The druid Silvermane, always mute, has said nothing and done little more to shed light on how the cross was painted, by who or when, but has grown a patch of moist mold and lichen to hide it from all but those knowing where to look to find it.
Sanctuary: Besides the sizeable white sword representing Iomedae’s own holy sword that juts from the roof of the temple, a thick white cross or sword has been painted on the rock face behind the Sanctuary. The clergy attest that they have no connection to the paintings and they do not represent the worship of Her Lady of the Light.
South Tower: The large white sword dominating the side of this guard tower is much larger than any of the other graffiti marks in town, and is visible from even beyond Trunau’s walls. It remains a mystery how somebody managed to paint the mark 30 feet tall and 10 feet wide on a garrisoned tower unobserved, but it indeed occurred.
Plague House: The Plague House is the most recent site to be tagged by these graffiti artists. It has been tagged with two separate markings of indelible ink, the first a typical white cross painted upon the burnt lintel of the front door. The second markings are smeared upon the huge boulder behind the Plague House, known to the locals as the Freestone. Jagged red runes have been painted onto the rock in long, broad strokes that reach from top to bottom. Frum cannot identify the runes and thus far no one else has expressed enough interest to translate them for him.
Leira tries to sooth Omast Frum "It was not your fault Omast. Rodrik was dealing against foreigner evil forces, and in the end he was betrayed." the girl strokes the man right arm "We will find the guilty ones, you can help us do it."
As for the information he gives about the marks the girl says "It seems the marks all have appeared into remarkable buildings of Trunau. I cannot see the relation between them... perhaps military targets?" she looks at Adir "If your idea about the orc attack is true, being military targets seams feasible. But then... why the Plague House... it seems that place plays a role in all this we cannot grasp at the moment."
The girl remains thoughtful for a while then adds "We can try to check them before heading inside the Plague House. It comes to my head some ideas. We can try to talk with some wizard to check if he can attempt to erase the marks. And we can check with city elders to see if they can explain us more about the Plague House."
"From my boughs, there are 650gp I could lend someone."
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"Leira is correct, Sergeant. If it makes Rodrik's death any easier to stomach for you, we can say for certain that we have discovered he did not commit suicide and was almost certainly murdered. He had suspicions about activity about town and, when he went to investigate those suspicions, he was targeted by those who did not want to be discovered."
"The things we have learned have all led us to the Plague House. Remember what we were told about Rodrik's secret meetings there with another citizen and how they ran into a flood troll there? He apparently tried tracking it from there on more than one occasion which, to me, says that the flood troll wasn't just passing through. No matter what happens, a beast such as that being so near Trunau is dangerous and we cannot let it continue to reside there unchallenged."
"I am, of course, no citizen of Trunau, but I do not believe we need to take the time to bring this to the council. The longer we delay, the more time we give our enemies. We should handle our supply-gathering and go to the Plague House as soon as possible. Today."
Everything you can learn about the Plague House prior to going there was learned by Groin while talking with Katrezra. There is not much new information to be gleaned at this time.
Don't forget, the marks mentioned were the well known structures. There was also an outhouse, a couple of cellars, and other ordinary buildings not of any significant military value.
Dundin walks soberly to speak with Frum. He figures the pretty girls would be too nice on the man, and men didn't often take well when women told them what to do. The man needed his advice straight, like he took his drink.
"Frum, I was charged with watchin' Rodrick, and I done busted my 'signment there. As a dwarf, you don't take bustin 'signments lightly, especially when people die. I am tryin to make up for it. But you don't crawl into a tankard when dere's important stuff ta do. You put yourself in a position to make a diff'rance. Now, we covered for you because I think you may be able to make me not regret it. But, you become a liability to this town, by Torag's Beard I'll make sure you are replaced!! You do your duty for the guy next to you, and if it ain't Rodrick, find someone else to not let down, or I'm gonna kick you a$$ after I get you removed from a job where a drunk whiner can get someone killed."
The redfaced dwarf stomps off.
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Sitting down next to the sergeant, Songan seems to spend a few moments in thought, then turns to the man, reaching a hand out to place a hand on his shoulder. "Sergeant, I realize this has been difficult for you. I know that Rodrik's death has been very hard for you. There is something that I feel you must know...information that has already been given to the captain, and which you cannot share with anyone else. We do not know everything yet, but we do know that it is as Leira has said: Rodrik did not take his own life. He getting too close to...something, some plot...and he was murdered for it. The killers staged the scene to make it look like suicide and discourage further investigation. Already there have been two attempts on our life since we started looking into it ourselves, so we believe we are on the right track."
"But I want to ask you, Frum...if Rodrik were to walk into that door right now, and look at you, what would he say to you? I know he's been spending a great deal of time with you lately and he was like a son to you. Would he be pleased to know that what happened to him caused you to turn back to this...this illness? This disease? Or would he grab you by the shoulders, shake you, and tell you to pull yourself together? To deal with his passing, to help, but not to revert back to who you were when you've already made such progress? I think you know what the answer to that question is, Frum...and more than that, sir, I want to know that if your aid should be required of us, you will be able to render it. You want, every bit as much as we do, to find out what is at the bottom of this hole we're digging. You want to know who is responsible. You want them to be held to account. So do we. But that will not happen, Sergeant, if you are so deep into your bottle of sorrows that you can't help us. Now look at me, Frum...I have to know. WE have to know. Can we count on you?"
Frum sits stunned and ashamed, both from Dundin's rebuff, Songan's rebuttal, and his own guilt. His head hangs low, his hands cradling his face. For a few moments it looks as if he is going to fall apart, when a long low sigh escapes his lips. He looks up, his eyes wet with tears. His gaze lingers not on any of you, but past you, lost in the distance. Rodrik, I failed you once, I will not do so again. Trunau was yours, she remains mine. I cannot let you down again, nor will I let down those you have gathered to seek your vengeance.
Frum looks around at those gather by him. You are right, this is not the man worthy of Rodrik's love and friendship. I must strive to be him once again. If you need me, if Trunau needs me, I will be there. I will be there because that is where Roddie would be, and so should I, by his side. You have my word, my sword, and... handing a half full flask to Songan, and you have my bottle. No more shall I give in to weakness, Roddie never did. I must be as strong for him as he was for us.
Delia nods to Frum as he decides to hold onto the proud memories of Rodrik and to not allow despair to drag him down the road of bitterness. "Sergeant, I understand your loss. It is good to have you by our side once again." She puts her hand upon his shoulder and grips it firmly with a smile. "We must all continue the fight to uphold The Vow in Rodrik's honor. Should you ever find yourself pondering temptation, seek me out. I shall aide you in any way I can in ridding yourself of your inner demons."
As the night before, Adir's sympathy is minimal, though he does not interfere with others' attempts with Frum. He rests with his back against the wall and his arms crossed until it runs its course.
"Shall we meet back here in Sanctuary at two hours past noon and head to Plague House? We should probably pair up at the very least if yesterday was anything to judge by."
Leira closes by Frum and talks him softly "Omast... that you made yesterday... the alcohol will not solve things at all. What is done is done. And Rodrik will like to see you sober and fighting to discover his assassin and helping the guard."
The girl takes the man by the arm "You are a great man, you need to care a bit more of you. Trunau really needs you. We all need you. The Sanctuary, me or all my friends, we are all whiling to help you. If you are in doubts again, come talk to us, as Delia said, do not let you sink into the alcohol again."
Leira agree afterwards at Adir's comment "Let's met here then in the Sanctuary doors at two hours past noon, once all of us has done their purchases"
In addition to some scrolls, Leira also buys a bunch of cold iron bolts and another one of alchemical silver ones. As she finishes her purchases, she goes home and talks with her mother, Aliana, for a while, trying to understand what happened during the night, and hoping some guidance to control it.
Once everybody else finishes their purchases, Leira is already waiting at the Sanctuary doors.
Dundin shows up at the appointed time with a huge hammer he has purchased. He is carrying it as if trying to get used to the weight.
Dundin looks around for tracks